ARSENE WENGER has admitted he hasn’t kept in contact with Jack Wilshere following his loan move to Bournemouth.
Wilshere left Arsenal on deadline day to join Bournemouth on a season-loan loan deal after slipping down the pecking order at the Emirates.
The 24-year-old was once Arsenal’s brightest prospect but injuries and poor form saw him fall behind Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka in Wenger’s plans.
Wilshere has since impressed at Bournemouth, making nine appearances to help Eddie Howe’s side up to 10th in the Premier League.
Arsenal midfielders' creativity compared to Jack Wilshere
Fri, November 25, 2016Click through the gallery to see the amount of chances created by Arsenal midfielders and Jack Wilshere this season, according to EA Sports stats
Click through the gallery to see how many chances Arsenal midfielders have created in the Premier League this season compared to Jack Wilshere
But Wenger, who has mentored Wilshere since before he made his Gunners debut at 16, has revealed he hasn’t spoken to the midfielder during his time on the south coast.
“I leave him to talk to his manager,” Wenger said. “When I can watch him, I do watch him.”
Wilshere’s contract expires in the summer of 2017 and Wenger claims Arsenal will be offering him a new deal in the New Year.
Ahead of Arsenal’s clash with Bournemouth at the Emirates on Sunday (2.15pm), the Frenchman said: “Of course.
"Ideally [it will be addressed before next summer].
“We have to plan around the new year.
“I am happy that he develops well. In the end it was a good decision to go to Bournemouth because he gets regular football. People who watch him say he is getting stronger every week.
“The regular football has helped him develop a lot and come back to the level he needs to be.”